The electric collar and fence are expensive failures. Over almost a week, Michael secured the circuit wire to the fence or buried it underground. With a flourish of false confidence, we secured the collar around Ruby's neck. We were sure these devices would keep her safe, inside the fence and out of mischief. How wrong we were.
The collar works. If Ruby moves into the range of the electric fence, she is given a significant bang for her buck. We know this as Michael has tested its efficacy and found the collar's zap to be more than satisfactory. What we didn't count on was the Beagle's sheer force of will and her incredible tolerance of discomfort, even pain.
We have watched Ruby approach the fence. We have heard the collar's high pitched squeal become more insistent as she gets closer. And then, given an opportunity to wiggle under the fence, she does so, whilst completely ignoring the zapping the collar is emitting. For she is being aided and abetted by an unlikely ally,
We have filled in her holes along our fence line as they appear. Michael brings home broken bricks from the Forbes building for this purpose. We have a hunch that if we can slow down her speed of escaping, the collar might deliver one electric shock that actually penetrates the Beagle's skull. And makes her think twice.
We are also being thwarted by a phantom brick thrower. We believe we know who it is but we can't prove it. All we know is that the brick filled holes along the fence line are being undermined. And somebody is hurling broken bricks well into our backyard from this line.This action usually occurs when we are absent and we are concerned the phantom brick thrower is actually attempting to strike our dogs. The bricks are always found well into our garden, at least ten metres in from our fence. And all this person is doing by these actions is aiding and abetting Ruby in her escapology. And if she continues to get out of our backyard, we are very concerned that Ruby could meet with some misadventure.
If the meantime, we contain Ruby as best we can. We have started tying her up again. We are employing the dog barricade across the dog door as needs be. This, of course, penalises the two other Stooges who don't leave the property.
And Ruby herself doesn't understand the gravity of her actions. Neither is she contrite. At all. Her countenance is always of outraged innocence when we dare to point out that she has been a naughty dog. She chooses not to accept or understand that her behaviour has been less than exemplary.
She has the capacity to try the patience of a saint. And Michael and I are only human. Sigh.
Ruby has always regarded food with reverence...
and an Elizabethan collar didn't slow down her escapology...
and she is convinced of her own innocence...
whilst she continues to worship any culinary treat.
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